The MBA Journey for Fall 2009

7-5, on to Play offs!!

On Sunday we travelled to play the Indians (name of the team that is) in what was an important game to secure our play off spot. We had a strong team with many of our regulars back and thus were well positioned to ensure victory in this game.

We lost the toss and the opposing side decided to bat. Our opening bowlers bowled a really tight spell and alongwith some poor planning resulted in the first 15 overs resulting in only 45 runs being scored for the loss of one wicket. This on a track which is generally good for batsman and where the outfield allows for decent scores to be made.

Our spinners than turned on the squeeze. Although our captain went for a lot of runs and still insisted on bowling despite leaking a run a ball we still wrapped up their innings in the 40 over. Raju, our classical left arm spinner took another 5fer. He had taken a 5fer at this very ground last year as well. I have seen him bowl several notches better and not get wickets. An indication of lady luck and some really really ordinary batting prowess. I cleant up the tail with 2 quick wickets in the end. Both bowled; a pleasant change from my usual caught in the deep manner of taking wickets. Funny really, my namesake was unplayable and yet didnt take a wicket. I bowled straight and yet ended up with a couple.

We were thus set a target of 143. On first looks, that should have made for a very easy chase considering our batting strength. I went out to open, we were back to our usual opening partnership after last weeks effort to get other players on track.

We started off very circumspectly as the bowlers gave us nothing to work with. They were essentially very medium pace bowlers who caught a good line and length. We were unable to shake them off until the 7th over when the last ball of the over was pummelled over extra cover for a two bounce 4. I surprised myself with how well I timed that ball. Especially in an area where I dont score many runs in. After 7 overs, we were 17 for no loss and starting to accelerate. Their top bowler was brought on to bowl. He banged one in a little short, anybody in my team will tell you; ‘whatever you do, dont bowl short to Sameer’ and I promptly pulled him for an effortless 6 over square leg. I added another pulled four backward of square leg in his next over. But then as usual I got over exuberant and tried to slog him over mid wicket and tamely chipped the ball to short mid wicket.

I scored 23 in fairly quick time and the 35 run opening partnership got us a stable base. Despite a middle order stutter we won comfortably with 6 wickets in hand.